Knocking

[edge24_99]

I just bought a 96 camaro. I have noticed I can smell antifreeze but I dont see a leak. I have all the syptoms of a bad core I believe. Switches from cold air to hot over and over. I smell antifreeze inside and out. I am less concerned w/ the coolant leak than I am a knock I heard. After driving around for awile,(the temp. above 200)I will come to a stop and hear a knock under the hood. Could this be from the coolant leak? Any help would be greatly appreicated.

[edge24_99]

Does anybody have ANY ideas.

[pgriffith]

when you came to a stop was the car turned off when it knocked or was it still running?

[TealV6]

Knocking is usually not from a coolant leak. Most of the time it's going to be lifters, rod trying to throw itself or something else internal to the motor. Best thing to do is get a pressure test done on the coolant system. This will tell you for sure if you have a leak.

Also check the dipstick for discoloration. This will tell you if you have anitfreeze in the motor. If you do, you have a shortened life span now and a head leak or similar.

Steve

[edge24_99]

I belive it did it on both. Idle and off.

[edge24_99]

Anybody, somebody. Please give me more suggestions. If it is a headgasket what is the fastest way to blow it. My engine in under warenty for 30 days.

[99BlueSuperSix]

If your oil looks like a milkshake its a blown head gasket... another symptom is white smoke from the exhaust especially on startup... you can blow it easily by overheating and running the car hard... but you run the risk of cracking the block... extreme heat causes the engine to knock by heating the oil so it's too thin to lubricate properly or by decreasing the size of the metal moving parts in the engine. going from hot to cold could be a sticking thermostat, or even low coolant (air in the system), which could cause too much pressure going into the overflow tank and you would smell antifreeze. check under the hood for leaks, make sure the overflow tank is not leaking... if it's the heater core you can always bypass it until you can afford to fix it...

[chevcamaro18]

start your car and look at the front of your engine. See if there is any antifreeze leaking on your serpentine belt. That would be your water pump thats easy to fix
if its not that and your not seeing any spots anywhere probley a head gasket which i hope it isnt

[strange_trp]

run engine and check coolant reservoir for exhaust gasses or HC's with gas analyzer. this may also show you block/head/sealing problems.

[edge24_99]

chevmaro18.....you got it right on. My first inspection I didnt see a leak so I didnt think it was leaking. I was driving home( about 10 miles @ 70mph) and I was at 240 degrees. I pulled into my garage and check while it was hot, I did the warm hose- cold hose thing. I didnt even notice that when I put water in it, it came out right under my water pump. Thanks for the help guys but its back in the shop. I should have been smarter.

......And a heads up to utah residents.......
I bought the car from low book sales. In my opinion they are crooks. The sales person lied right to my face about it. Good thing the mechanic in the back was a good guy.